West Goshen man accused of kidnapping, rape

WEST GOSHEN — A 24-year-old West Goshen man is facing kidnapping and rape charges after an alleged attempt to force his wife to leave the country against her will, according to police.

Investigators say Lirim Rufati was arrested after a friend of his wife called 911 on Jan. 3 to report a kidnapping. According to police, the caller told 911 operators that Rufati had kidnapped his wife and taken her to JFK International Airport in New York. The caller said Rufati and his father were forcing the woman to leave the country against her will.

The victim, who was not identified, was discovered by a Port Authority police officer as she was traveling through customs, police said. After she was approached by police, she told them that she did not want to leave the country and was being forced to board a plane to Macedonia “as punishment,” police said.

During a subsequent interview with police the victim described numerous physical and sexual assaults she allegedly suffered at Rufati’s hands over the past year at their home.

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Rufati was arrested and charged with kidnapping, rape, false imprisonment, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, aggravated assault, and related offenses. He was transported to Chester County Prison after failing to post $250,000 cash bail, according to police.